NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Aug. 26, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- News media are invited to the keel laying ceremony for the aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) at Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Newport News sector Saturday, Sept. 6. Former President George H. W. Bush will serve as the keel authenticator and keynote speaker for the ceremony. Former First Lady Barbara Bush will also attend with their daughter, Doro Bush Koch, the ship's sponsor.
Other ceremony participants include Northrop Grumman Newport News President Tom Schievelbein; Secretary of the Navy (Acting) H. T. Johnson; Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark; Virginia Sen. John W. Warner; and retired Navy Adm. James L. Holloway III. THE CEREMONY IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
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Arrangements for media credentials must be made no later than Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 4 p.m. EDT. Please have the following information available when you call, e-mail or fax us:
-- Names of media persons attending and their role (reporter or
photographer)
-- Date and place of birth
-- Social Security Number
-- Name of news agency
There are two opportunities for media to cover this event. All times listed are EDT.
1. Northrop Grumman Newport News will host a special media preview Friday, Sept. 5, at 2 p.m. This is an opportunity to preview the ceremony site, photograph/film ceremony preparations and talk with some of the shipyard employees who are building the ship.
The media schedule for Sept. 5 is as follows:
-- 1:30 p.m. - News media meet at Building 520 (corner of 41st and
Washington Avenue Visitor's Parking Area) for check-in and
badging.
-- 2 p.m. - Company transportation to the site of the George H. W.
Bush keel laying and construction
-- 2-3 p.m. - Photo and interview opportunities
-- 3 p.m. - News media depart ceremony site.
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2. The George H. W. Bush keel laying ceremony is Saturday, Sept. 6. Media parking is available in the shipyard's North Yard parking lot starting at 9:30 a.m. Take the ramp down into the shipyard at Huntington Avenue and 64th Street and follow media parking signs. News media must arrive at the parking area no later than 10:15 a.m. to cover the ceremony.
The media schedule for Sept. 6 is as follows:
-- 10:15 a.m. - All media should arrive at the North Yard parking
area. Media must show their credentials to a communications
representative upon arrival. The representative will issue event
badges and media will be escorted to ceremony site.
-- The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. and end at approximately
12:15 p.m. A media availability with platform participants who
wish to participate will follow the ceremony and then media will
be escorted back to the parking area.
If you are interested in attending either the Sept. 5 Media Preview Day or the Sept. 6 Keel Laying Ceremony or both, please contact Jennifer Dunn at 757-380-3558, by e-mail at Jennifer.Dunn@ngc.com or by fax at 757-380-3867.
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SATELLITE INFORMATION
Northrop Grumman Newport News will provide a live, multicamera satellite broadcast of the ceremony in its entirety on Sept. 6. Details are as follows:
Online: 10:30am EDT with a window through 1:30pm EDT Access: Telstar 6, K-11 Full, 11929 vertical